Oil and gas well capping device



Oct. 22, 1935'. SYOBQ 2,018,194

OIL AND GAS WELL CAPPING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet lfly.z' V ENTOR a/ BY MM m M ATTORNEYS Oct. 22, 1935. SYOBQ 2,018,194

OIL AND GAS WELL CAPPING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2IINVENTOR J $0- BY A4 I. I 144; ATTORNEYS Oct. 22, 1935. G. sYoBo2,018,194

OIL AND GAS WELL CAPPING- DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .4I A. I l

ATTORNEYS Patented oer. 22, 1935 .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,018,1947 on. AND GAS WELL CAPPING nnvrcn Gabriel Syobo, Lemoore, Calif.Application August 22, 1934, Serial Ne..":41,o11

3 Claims. (Cl. 217-63) The drilling of oil and gas wells is attended bythe danger that a high pressure stratum may be encountered from whichthe oil or gas may issue forth so violently that it cannot be broughtunder .control for some time. The pressure may be run from 1500 to 2500pounds per square foot or more, in which case before the well can becapped a great quantity of gas, oil, sand, and even rocks will be blownhigh in the air, endangering all those in the vicinity, damagingthe'equipment, and leading to great loss of oil and gas.

. Various devices have been designed in an effort to control pressuresof this kind. My invention is the result of an efiort to make a moresatisfactory capping device than any that have been known before.

One object of my invention is to provide a capping device of simplemassive structure which will assure its capacity to subdue any pressurewhich may be encountered.

Gas wells are frequently set aflre bythe striking of a spark in removingthe drill.

It is accordingly a further object of my invention to providea cappingdevice having a valve which can be instantly closed to seal the well assoon as the drill rod is removed. For this purpose, the valve isdesigned to be closed by the force of the fluid itself when startedtoward closed position.

Another object is to provide a capping device which can remain inposition permanently, but

with the valve withdrawn from closing position,

and which is perfectly tight against leakage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strong connectionbetween the capping device 1 and the well casing.

I have, shown two forms of the invention, by way of example, in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical section of one formof capping device designed for relatively small well casings " at. 2 isan elevation of the right side of capping device shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the left side of the capping device shown inFig. 2,

A valve chamber H is provided with an internally threaded inlet nipple34 and an internally threaded outlet nipple 36. The inlet nipple 34 isof correct size to screw onto the top of the well casing (not shown inFigs. 1-5) One side of the globular body or the valve chamber I i is cutof! on a. plane surface 38 and there is attached to this surface byscrews 23 a plate l4. Forming an integral part of this plate is agudgeon l4a, to which is connected by a pin I5 2. high pressure checkvalve l2. In the upper position shown in Fig. 1,. the valve I 2 restsagainst a seat 40, while in its lower position shown in dotted lines inFig. 1, the valve lies in a recess out of line with the bore of thenipples 34 and 36.

For operating the valve I2, a rod 13 is pivotally connected by a pin IIto a plug l8 which screws into a threaded socket 4| in the center of thevalve. A small hole 28a (Fig'. 8) may be bored through the valve intothe bottom of the socket 4| into which the plug I3 is screwed, toprovide an exit for oil and dirt collecting in the bottom of the socket.The outer end of rod l3 extends through a hole 42 in the plate 14, beingguided in this hole by a universal joint comprising a ball 95 I6 held ina spherical seat 44 by a nut 26, and a bearing sleeve to which the balli5 is fixed and in which the rod is slidably guided.

In order to hold the valve [2 securely in inoperative position whiledrilling, a second hole 46 is made in. plate l4, through which a screw22 can extend to be screwed into a threaded socket IS in the valve. Asmall hole 23 may be bored into the bottom of socket l3, similar to thehole 28a. The hole 42 is surrounded by an externally threaded circularflange 48 to receive a cap 20. The cap can bescrewed into .position whenthe valve I2 is closed, or when the rod I3 is removed and the valve isin the dotted line position of Fig. 6. The hole 46 is surrounded by aninternally threaded flange 50 adapted to receive a cap 2i. I

Into the outlet nipple 36 is screwed a second valve chamber 6. Thisvalve chamber contains a valve 9 seating against the upper edge 52 of a5 sleeve I0 screwed into the valve chamber; The valve 9 is mounted upona stem I. The stem has a head 3 resting in a socket in the valve 3 andheld therein by a threaded bush 1. The

upper end of stem I screws into threads in the so .u is opened, fluid isprovided. This valve can be assembled by inserting the stem and valve,with hand wheel 2 removed, in through the inlet nipple oi the valvebefore the sleeve II is in place, screwing the stem into the sleeve it,and then screwing home the sleeve iii. The outlet nipple o! the valvechamber 6 may be connected to a reservoir or any other place ofdisposal.

The operation or the device is as iollows:

The drilling of thewell continues until the oil or gas'stratlim. isapproached, at which time the drill is disconnected and the cappingdevice is placed in position by screwing the nipple I4 onto the upperend oi the well casing. The caps 20 and 2i are removed, the valve i2 isdrawn to the dotted line position 01' Fig. 8, and screw 22 is screwedinto socket I. The valve chamber 6 is removed and the capping device isnow in condition for the drilling to continue through it, the path forthe drill rod being clear. when the production sand is reached, thedrill rod is removed. At the instant the bit emerges from the chamberll, particularly it it is accompanied by a spray of material from thewell, the rod is is pushed, screw 22 having been. previously removed, tothrow the valve l2 into the path 0! fluid passing through the valvechamber. The

fluid thereby slams the valve against its seat 40 and efiectively sealsthe well. The closing oi the valve can be accomplished so rapidly thateven if a fire is started, the attendant can complete the sealing of thewell without danger. It the well drillers are not yet ready to connectthe well to the reservoir, the caps 20 and 21' can be screwed into placeand the well will thus be completely sealed until such time as the workis ready to be continued.

The next step is to screw in the valve chamber 0. This beingaccomplished, the valve 0 being seated, and the nipple 60 beingconnected. to

the reservoir, the device .is ready to have the valve i2 opened. Thiscannot be accomplished by simply pulling out the rod ll, because 01' thegreat pressure holding the valve closed. To relieve this pressure, I-provide a by -pass 62 connected by bushes 24 to ports I and il in theplate I4 and valve chamber 8 respectively. The by-pass 62 is providedwith a valve "and may also have a pressure gauge II. when the valvey-passed intovthe space between valves 9 and .I ,.eventuallyestablishing the same .pressure abdve .the valve as below. This valvewill then drop to inoperative position and can be securedinr-place byscrew 22. Then ,plug llon rod i3 is unscrewed from its socket,

nut 26 isremoved,vand the whole valve operating mechanism is .taken 03.There is then screwed' into the socket li a large headed screw (notshown) which fits into theiseat from which nut 26 has beenremoved... Thecaps 20 and 2i can now be. replaced and the capping device is pertectlytight against leakage. The' ilow 01' gas or oilcan then be controlled byhand wheel 2. -Where the well casing is more than six inchesin'diameter, I prefer to use a reinforced connection oi -the cappingdevice to the well casing.

Thismaybeot thekindshownin 1"lgs.6and7. The inlet nipple Ila of thevalve chamber is internally threaded to screw onto the casing 2i and isexternally threaded to receive a coupling 2.. Into the lower' hall orthis coupling there is screwed a short pipe section 20. Due to thethickness oi the walls or the nipple Ila, the pipe 30 which is to fitinto acoupling of a size to screw onto the nipple Ila will be ofsomewhat larger bore than the outer diameter of the well 10 casing 3|.Accordingly the .lower end voi'- the pipe section Iii is longitudinallyslotted at H so that it can be drawn together to embrace the pipe 2iclosely. Then the slots ll are welded and drops of weld metal areinserted in small holes I. to secure the pipe section 30 to the wellcasing 2i.

This capping device is distinguished by its massive and simple structurewhich adapts it to withstand the severe conditions to which it is sosubjected. Its quickness of operation and its ability to be tightlysealed are also of great advantage.

Various modifications of the device as shown may be made within thescope of the invention. Having described my invention, I

. I claim:

1. In an oil or gas well capping device, a valve body-comprising alinedinlet and outlet nipples,

said inlet nipple having means for connecting the same to the casinghead of the well, said. valve body having a lateral opening between saidnipples completely surrounded by a packing seat lying in a planesubstantially parallel to the axis of said nipples, a cover platecovering said open- 8!.

ing and packing against said seat, a valve pivotally mounted upon saidcover plate by means lying wholly within said valve body, said valve"body having. a seat within the same adjacent said outlet nipple againstwhich said valve is 40..

adapted to seat to close said outlet nipple, said valve being adapted toswing to a position par-' ailel to said cover plate and wholly clear 01'the space between the openings 01 said nipples, and

athrustmember connectedtothe iace ofsaid;

valve next to said cover plate, said cover plate having an opening inwhich said thrust member is tightly guided.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1 havin mea or swin in said checkvalve on its 60- pivot comprising a thrust rod pivoted to said checkvalve and projecting through an opening in said detachable wall plateand a swivel hearing in said opening having a spherically-shapedexternal portion and a bearing sleeve on the interior thereof forguiding said thrust rod;

- 3. The combination claimed in claim 1 hav ing means (or swinging saidcheck valve on its pivot comprising a thrust rod pivoted to said checkvalve and projecting through an opening

